Aircraft hangar door

ABSTRACT

An adjustable closure adapted for use with aircraft hangar doors for fitting around an aircraft fuselage projecting through the space between the doors. Each door has a horizontally movable carrier. A pair of closure elements are mounted on each carrier and have recesses shaped to fit around the fuselage. The closure elements on each carrier are adjustable toward and away from one another and are substantially free floating vertically in response to vertical movement of the fuselage.

United States Patent Inventor Allan E. Wetter Bloomfield Township,Oakland County, Mich. Appl. No. 853,850 Filed Aug. 28, 1969 PatentedJune 1, 1971 Assignee Byrne Doors, lnc.

Terndale, Mich.

AIRCRAFT HANGAR DOOR 14 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 49/118, 49/27, 49/40, 49/149, 49/362 Int. Cl E05f 15/14, E05f17/00 Field of Search 49/27, 28,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,666,962 1/1954 Tripp49/4OX 2,739,645 3/1956 Urquhart 49/149X 2,791,808 5/1957 Riss1er....49/27 3,303,303 2/1967 Miller 49/27X Primary ExaminerJ. Karl BellAttorney-Whittemore, Hulbert & Belknap ABSTRACT: An adjustable closureadapted for use with aircraft hangar doors for fitting around anaircraft fuselage projecting through the space between the doors. Eachdoor has a horizontally movable carrier. A pair of closure elements aremounted on each carrier and have recesses shaped to fit around thefuselage. The closure elements on each carrier are adjustable toward andaway from one another and are sub stantially free floating vertically inresponse to vertical movement of the fuselage.

PATENTEI] JUN 1:971 3581, 137

IINVENTOR AZZA/V AF. W577i ATTORNEYS PAIENIED JUN 1 m7:

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INVENTOR AZZA/V WZTTER (M Kim, M MM v v ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJUH 11m3581.437

sum 5 UF 5 INVENTOR AZZA/V 4''. W577??? AIRCRAFT IIANGAR DOOR BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The invention is an improvement on the adjustableclosure disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,739,645.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide animproved adjustable closure for fitting around an aircraft fuselageprojecting through the space between the doors of an aircraft hangar.

Another object is to provide an adjustable closure comprising closureelements for closing the space between the aircraft hangar doors and thefuselage, and means mounting the clo sure elements on the doors topermit substantially free floating movement thereof in response tomovement of the fuselage.

Another object is to provide an adjustable closure in which the closureelements are mounted for substantially free floating movement verticallyin response to vertical movement of the fuselage.

Another object is to provide upper and lower closure elements mounted oneach door, and means for moving the clo sure elements relatively towardand away from one another.

Another object is to provide moving means for the upper and lowerclosure elements in the form of adjustable threaded members.

Another object is to provide single counterbalancing means for the upperand lower closure elements on each door member, being connected to theupper closure element.

Another object is to provide means for moving the upper and lowerclosure elements comprising a flexible linear member suspending thelower closure element from the upper closure element, and means forincreasing and decreasing the effective lengths of the linear members tocause the upper and lower closure elements to move relatively away fromand toward each other.

Another object is to provide a horizontally movable carrier on each doormember upon which the vertically movable upper and lower closureelements are mounted.

Another object is to provide pressure sensitive means for renderinginoperative the power drives forthe carrier and the closure elements inresponse to excessive pressure contact of a closure element with thefuselage.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary inside elevational view of aircraft hangar doorassemblies including door members having horizontally movable carriersand vertically movable closure elements mounted on the carriers adaptedto fit around an aircraft fuselage projecting through the space betweenthe door members. The closure elements are shown open, i.e., verticallyspaced apart.

FIG. 2 is-a semidiagrammatic elevational view of a door assembly asviewed from the left in FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 are fragmentary sectional views respectively,taken on the lines 3-3, 44, 5-5, 66 and 7-7 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view taken substantially on the line 8-8 in FIG.1.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIG. 1, showingthe means for relatively moving the closure ele ments toward and awayfrom each other.

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the door assemblies shownin FIG. 1, showing the aperture in closed position.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a door assembly having a modifiedconstruction.

The aircraft hanger door assemblies 9 are diagrammatically illustratedin FIG. 10 where they will be seen to include a pair of door members 10movable horizontally toward and away from each other on ground wheels 11between closed and open positions. In the closed position illustrated inFIG. 10, the door members substantially close an opening in an aircrafthangar, and in the open position of the door members, the opening in theaircraft hangar is substantially unobstructed to permit an aircraft tobe moved into or out of the hangar. Upon each door member 10 there ismounted a horizontally movable carrier 12, and upon each carrier 12there are mounted an upper closure element 14 and a lower closureelement 16. The upper and lower closure elements 14 and 16 are movablevertically toward one another so as to fit around the fuselage F of anaircraft and close the space between the door members and the fuselage.The door assemblies 9 are mirror images of one another, and thereforesimilar parts have been given the same reference numbers.

Referring now more particularly to FIGS. l3, each door member 10 has ahead guide 18 for guiding the horizontal movement thereof. As seenparticularly in FIG. 3, the hangar structure includes the horizontallaterally spaced I-beams 20 which extend along the top of the hangaropening. The head guide for each door member 10 includes the supportstructure 22 carried by the door member and having a truck 24 at theupper end upon which the bearing blocks 26 are mounted. Shafts 28carried by the bearing blocks 26 have end rollers 30 rotatable onhorizontal axes and running on the bottom flanges of the l-beams 20 tosupport the trucks 24. Guide rollers 32 mounted on vertical stub shafts34 depending from plate 24 engage the inner flanges 36 on the invertedchannels 38 carried by the I-beams 20 to guide the door members 10during their opening and closing movements. The hangar has a fixed frame40 extending beneath one of the channels 38 which is provided with aseal 42 engageable with the door members 10.

Referring to FIG. 4, the door members 10 may have cushions 39 on theirleading edges and additional seals 41 engaging carriers 12. Carriers 12may also have seals 43 engaging the closure elements.

The door members are driven horizontally between open and closedpositions by any suitable means such as by a drive including a motor 44mounted on each door member 10 having a transmission consisting ofchains. 46 and sprockets 48 to one of the floor-engaging wheels 11. Themotor 34 is reversible to drive the wheel 11 and hence the door memberin opposite directions and may be manually controlled by an operator.

Each carrier 12 is mounted on a door member 10 for horizontal movementrelative to the door member. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 10, the opposedleading; edges of the carriers 12 are recessed as indicated at 13 toclear the fuselage of an aircraft when the carriers 12 are broughttogether. Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the carrier 12 has a pluralityof guide rollers 52 along its upper edge mounted for rotation on thevertical shafts 54. The rollers 52 fit in the inverted horizontalchannel guides 56 secured to and extending horizontally along the upperedges of the door members 10. An upwardly extending frame structure 57on each carrier 12 has a seal 58 engaging a depending frame structure 59fixed to the hangar.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 8, each door member 10 has a horizontal track60 mounted on its inner surface consisting of an [beam 62 and a rail 64secured to the top of the I-beam 62. Each carriers 12 has the top andbottom rollers 66 and 68 engageable with the track 60 to support thecarrier 12 during its horizontal movement. The upper rollers 66 aregrooved rollers so that the annular flanges 70 thereof straddle the topflange of the rail 64. The lower rollers 68 engage the bottom flange ofthe I-beam 62. The rollers 66 and 68 turn on horizontal axes and aresupported by bearing blocks 72 and 74 mounted upon the carrier 12. Anelectric motor 76 is mounted on each carrier 12 and has a suitable chainand sprocket transmission 78 to one of the rollers 66. The motor 76 isreversible and may be controlled manually to drive the carrier 12horizontally in either direction.

The upper and lower closure elements 14 and 16 for each door member 10are supported for vertical movement on the associated carrier 12.Referring to FIGS. 1,4 and 5, each carrier 12, has a pair of laterallyspaced guide channel tracks 80.

Each closure element is provided with four tilt rollers 82 and four windrollers 84 which engage the tracks 80 to guide the vertical movement ofthe closure element. The tilt rollers 82 are supported by brackets 86for free rotation on horizontal axes extending transversely of the doormembers and roll on the webs of the tracks 80. The wind rollers 84 aremounted on the closure elements by brackets 88 for free rotation onhorizontal axes extending parallel to the direction of movement of thedoor members and roll on the flanges 90 of the tracks 80.

A single counterbalancing means is provided on each carrier 12 forsubstantially exactly counterbalancing the weight of the two associatedclosure elements 14 and 16. The counterbalancing means is generallydesignated 92 and comprises a counterweight 94 guided for verticalmovement on the carrier 12 by rollers 96 on the counterweight engagingtracks 98 on the carrier. Cables 100 extend from the counterweight 94 upover pulleys 102 on the carrier and then horizontally to pulleys 104also on the carrier. The cables then pass downwardly under pulleys 106carried by the upper closure element 14 and then upwardly and aresecured to anchorages 108 rigid with the carrier.

The means for relatively moving the upper and lower closure elements ofeach door toward and away from one another and generally designated 110,is also the means by which the lower closure element 16 is suspendedfrom and supported by the upper closure element 14. Referring to FIGS. 1and 9, such means comprises a motor drive 112 mounted on each lowerclosure element 16 which may comprise a reversible electric motor 114and a gear box 116 driven by a chain 118 from the motor. Suitablegearing 120 from the output shaft 122 of the gear box rotates a drum 124mounted on the lower closure element 16. A pair of cables 126 wrapped onthe drum 124 extend upwardly and are terminally secured to theanchorages 128 on the upper closure element 14. The motor 114 ismanually controlled and it will be apparent that by operating the motorin one direction or the other, the distance between the upper and lowerclosure elements may be either increased or decreased.

It will be understood that the counterweight 94 on each door membersubstantially exactly balances the weight of the two associated closureelements 14 and 16 and their related parts. Thus very little upward ordownward force applied to either one or both ofthe closure elements 14and 16 will cause the two closure elements to be raised or loweredaccordingly.

EAch closure element has a recessed leading edge 130 which is generallyin the shape of an arc to conform to the contour of the aircraftfuselage F. A cushion 132 is provided along each recessed edge 130 whichcushion may if desired be extended upwardly along the upper leadingvertical edges 134 of the closure elements as indicated at 136.Referring to FIG. 1, it will be noted that when the door members areclosed and the carriers 12 are brought together, the cushioned recessedleading portions of the two upper closure elements come together to formsubstantially a semicircle adapted to close the space above an aircraftfuselage, and the two cushioned leading recessed portions of the lowerelements likewise come together in substantially a semicircle to closethe space beneath the aircraft fuselage.

Preferably, pressure sensitive switches 140 and 142 are provided in thecushions 132 to protect the aircraft fuselage from excessive pressurecontact. The switches 140 are in the circuit to the associated carrierdrive 76 and the switches 142 are in the circuit to the associatedclosure element drive 114. When any of these switches is actuated byexcessive pressure, the motor drive with which it is associated isrendered inoperative or is deactuated to prevent further movement ofeither the carrier or the closure element in a closing direction withrespect to the aircraft fuselage.

Each carrier 12 has a flexible linear member which may be a nylon cord150 secured at its upper end at 152 to the carrier and having a weight154 at its lower end. This nylon cord is adapted to contact the side ofthe aircraft fuselage when the carrier is advanced, indicating to theoperator that the carrier has been advanced to the proper position.These cords are normally secured to carriers 12 in positions such thatthey extend along the ends 153 of the cushions 132.

ln operation and assuming an aircraft fuselage is projecting through thehangar opening between the door assemblies 9, the door members 10 aremoved in a closing direction toward one another by operation of themotors 44 to a predetermined position which may be indicated by a markon the floor, for example. The door members 10 are shown in their closedpositions in FIGS. 1 and 10. Then the carriers 12 are advanced by motors76 toward one another to the positions illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 10.The carriers will usually be advanced until the nylon cords 150 contactthe sides of the aircraft fuselage.

The motor 114 is then operated to bring the upper and lower closureelements 14 and 16 on each carrier toward one another by shortening thecables 126 connecting the two. In the event that the counterweight 94 isslightly heavy, the result will be an initial upward movement of thelower closure element 16 into contact with the lower side of theaircraft fuselage, followed by a downward movement of the upper closureelement 14 into contact with the upper surface of the aircraft fuselage.If, on the other hand, the counterweight is slightly light, the uppersegment will first descend into contact with the fuselage followed by anupward movement of the lower closure element. Thus when the firstclosure element to advance contacts the fuselage, the closing movementis transferred to the other element so that they both close upon thefuselage.

As noted, pressure switches and 142 are provided in the cushions 132 todeactuate motor 76 or motor 114 in the event that the operator shouldadvance either the carriers 12 or the closure elements 14 and 16 too farand subjects the aircraft fuselage to more than a predetermined limit ofpressure con- I861.

The upper and lower closure are completely free floating, beingsubstantially perfectly counterbalanced, so that if the fuselage changesits elevation, as in the event of a tire failure or when the aircraft isbeing loaded or unloaded for example, the closure elements will followthe fuselage and maintain a substantially closed space around thefuselage. It should be noted however that the distance separating theupper and lower closure elements will not change even though thefuselage moves up or down.

FIG 11 illustrates a modification in which corresponding parts bear thesame reference characters employed in FIGS. 1- -10. The essentialdifference in FIG, 11 is that the upper and lower closure elements ofeach door member are separately counterbalanced and are moved toward andaway from one another by means of a rigid threaded connection.

Thus as shown, a counterweight 200 has cables 202 extending over pulleys204 on the carrier 12 and then down to the lower closure element 216where they are terminally connected at 218. The counterweight 220 has acable 222 extending up over pulleys 224 mounted on the carrier 12 andthen down to the upper closure element 214 where they are terminallyconnected at 226. The counterweights 200 and 220 respectivelysubstantially perfectly balance the upper end lower closure elements 214and 216.

The means for moving the upper and lower closure elements toward andaway from each other consists of the screws 250 and the threaded tubularmembers 252 into which the screws 250 thread. The threaded tubularmembers 252 are disposed vertically and are rigidly carried by the upperclosure element 214, and the screws 250 are carried by the lower closureelement 216 for rotation although prevented from moving vertically withrespect to the lower closure element. A manually controlled, reversiblemotor drive diagrammatically illustrated at 254 is provided and throughthe transmissions 256 and gearing 258 operates to rotate the screws 250in either direction depending on whether it is desired to close theclosure elements upon one another or move them apart. Suitablepressure-sensitive limit switches 261 are' provided in the cushions 132to deenergize the motor drive 254 in the event of excessive pressurecontact between the cushions and the fuselage.

it is apparent that the closure elements 214 and 216, althoughindividually counterbalanced, will be substantially free floating andcapable of moving up and down as a unit with the aircraft fuselageshould the aircraft fuselage change its elevation.

it will be understood that the other door assembly not shown, will be amirror image of the one shown in FIG. 11. It will also be understoodthat except for the differences specifically described and illustrated,the construcution in FIG. I1 is like that in FIGS. 1-10.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An adjustable closure for fitting around an aircraft fuselage andadapted for use with aircraft hangar door members movable toward oneanother to define a space therebetween for receiving the fuselage,comprising closure elements for at least partially closing the spacebetween the door members and the fuselage, and means mounting saidclosure elements on the door members and permitting substantially freefloating movement of said closure elements in response to movement ofthe fuselage.

2. The closure defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includescounterbalancing means for said closure elements, and said closureelements are mounted for substantially free floating movement verticallyin response to vertical movement of the fuselage.

3. The closure defined in claim 2, wherein said closure elements includeupper and lower closure elements mounted on each door member, and meansfor moving said upper and lower closure elements toward and away fromone another.

4. The closure defined in claim 3, wherein said moving means comprisesadjustable threaded members.

5. The closure defined in claim 3, including pressure-actuated means forrendering said last-mentioned means inoperative in response to excessivepressure contact of a closure element with the fuselage.

6. The closure defined in claim 3, wherein a single counterbalancingmeans is provided for the upper and lower closure elements on each doormember, being connected to the upper closure element.

7. The closure defined in claim 6, wherein said moving means comprises aflexible linear member suspending the lower element of each door memberfrom the upper element thereof, and means for increasing and decreasingthe effective lengths of said linear members to cause said upper andlower elements to move relatively away from and toward each other.

8. The closure defined in claim 1, wherein said mounting means includesa horizontally movable carrier mounted on each door member andcounterbalancing means for said closure elements, said closure elementsinclude upper and lower closure elements mounted for substantially freefloating vertical movement on each carrier, and means for moving saidupper and lower closure elements toward and away from each other.

9. Theclosure defined in claim 8', wherein said moving means comprisesadjustable threaded members.

10. The closure defined in claim 8, wherein a single counterbalancingmeans is provided for the upper and lower closure elements on eachcarrier, being connected to the upper closure element.

11. The closure defined in claim 10, wherein said moving means comprisesa flexible linear member suspending the lower element on each carrierfrom the upper element thereon, and means for increasing and decreasingthe effective lengths of said linear members to cause said upper andlower elements to move relatively away from and toward each other.

12. The closure defined in claim 11, including pressure-actuated meansassociated with said closure elements for rendering said last-mentionedmeans inoperative in response to excessive pressure contact of a closureelement with the fusela e,

ll fhe closure defined in claim 12, wherein said closure elements haveleading edges provided with cushions for contacting the fuselage, andsaid pressure-actuated means is embedded in said cushions.

14. The closure defined in claim 8, including means for moving each ofsaid carriers, and pressure-actuated means associated with said closureelements for rendering said lastmentioned means inoperative in responseto excessive pressure contact of a closure element with the fuselage.

1. An adjustable closure for fitting around an aircraft fuselage andadapted for use with aircraft hangar door members movable toward oneanother to define a space therebetween for receiving the fuselage,comprising closure elements for at least partially closing the spacebetween the door members and the fuselage, and means mounting saidclosure elements on the door members and permitting substantially freefloating movement of said closure elements in response to movement ofthe fuselage.
 2. The closure defined in claim 1, wherein said mountingmeans includes counterbalancing means for said closure elements, andsaid closure elements are mounted for substantially free floatingmovement vertically in response to vertical movement of the fuselage. 3.The closure defined in claim 2, wherein said closure elements includeupper and lower closure elements mounted on each door member, and meansfor moving said upper and lower closure elements toward and away fromone another.
 4. The closure defined in claim 3, wherein said movingmeans comprises adjustable threaded members.
 5. The closure defined inclaim 3, including pressure-actuated means for rendering saidlast-mentioned means inoperative in response to excessive pressurecontact of a closure element with the fuselage.
 6. The closure definedin claim 3, wherein a single counterbalancing means is provided for theupper and lower closure elements on each door member, being connected tothe upper closure element.
 7. The closure defined in claim 6, whereinsaid moving means comprises a flexible linear member suspending thelower element of each door member from the upper element thereof, andmeans for increasing and decreasing the effective lengths of said linearmembers to cause said upper and lower elements to move relatively awayfrom and toward each oTher.
 8. The closure defined in claim 1, whereinsaid mounting means includes a horizontally movable carrier mounted oneach door member and counterbalancing means for said closure elements,said closure elements include upper and lower closure elements mountedfor substantially free floating vertical movement on each carrier, andmeans for moving said upper and lower closure elements toward and awayfrom each other.
 9. The closure defined in claim 8, wherein said movingmeans comprises adjustable threaded members.
 10. The closure defined inclaim 8, wherein a single counterbalancing means is provided for theupper and lower closure elements on each carrier, being connected to theupper closure element.
 11. The closure defined in claim 10, wherein saidmoving means comprises a flexible linear member suspending the lowerelement on each carrier from the upper element thereon, and means forincreasing and decreasing the effective lengths of said linear membersto cause said upper and lower elements to move relatively away from andtoward each other.
 12. The closure defined in claim 11, includingpressure-actuated means associated with said closure elements forrendering said last-mentioned means inoperative in response to excessivepressure contact of a closure element with the fuselage.
 13. The closuredefined in claim 12, wherein said closure elements have leading edgesprovided with cushions for contacting the fuselage, and saidpressure-actuated means is embedded in said cushions.
 14. The closuredefined in claim 8, including means for moving each of said carriers,and pressure-actuated means associated with said closure elements forrendering said last-mentioned means inoperative in response to excessivepressure contact of a closure element with the fuselage.